Howard at or near the southwest corner of section 7, then passing through, in a zigzag form, sections 18, 19, 30 and 31—crossing the township line into Milford, near the southeast corner of section 31. Keigley's branch of Skunk river passes through the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 31, very near the southwest corner of Howard Township. This creek was thus named after Esq. John H. Keigley, an early, settler, and a worthy man. There are several smaller creeks passing through Howard. Bear Creek runs from the northeast part through it southwesterly and empties into Skunk River in section 6, township 84, range 23, crossing the south line of Howard, (south line of section 32.) This creek, as well as "Bear Grove," received its name from the circumstances of a black bear having been killed on it by Isaac Smith, one of the early settlers. "Long Dick' Creek, the main branch, enters the north line of Howard, as well as the north line of Story County, in section 3, about the Bog Springs, then passes southwesterly and enters the Skunk River in the southwest quarter of section 18, township 85, range 23. It is said this creek (on which the old Smith mill stood,) received its name from the incident of a man, by the nick-name of "Long Dick," in looking over the country, up and down the creek. got lost and had to stay on the prairie one or two nights—yes, and just think of it—among prairie wolves and Indians—the Indians one hundred miles away; why, it was terrible! Well, he finally got back to settlement as Long as ever; so the creek was named "Long Dick."
There was a town laid off, October, 1551, on the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 18, township 85, range 23, called "Smithfield,' very near to this celebrated mill, you can read about it as described by my friend, R. W. Ballard.
There was once considerable timber along the western border of the township and some in Bear Grove, but much of the larger timber is now missing. The improvements in this township, within the last ten or fourteen years have been brisk; and especially within the vicinity of the railroad.
There are several in Howard who ship a great many cattle, hogs and grain and perhaps horse,. I will mine a few of them: Jonas Duea, H. C. C. Duea, O. O. Helgen, Mr. Michaelson, Sowers and Evanson.
Even Sowers &; Minkler, of Milford, and Lockwood & Bechtel, of Nevada, ship cattle and hogs from Roland.
There are many who raise cattle and Bogs for sale. and supply shippers; some of whom may be named, viz: Jonas Duea, John Christian, Giles A. Penn, M. Erickson, .John Michaelson, (). Laughland, Abel Olson, Elias Johnson, Oliver Thompson, M. Hegland, Ole O. Hegland S. Opstret, Ole J. Olson, John Ritland, Jeremiah Olson, Ole Ritland. Many raise and ship their own stock.